Girl, 2, dies of infection after being burned in bathtub

A 2-year-old girl who was severely burned by hot bath water last month in Pontiac has died.

Samariea Chambers suffered third-degree burns to the lower half of her body on July 27. She was eventually transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital and, at the time, doctors expected her to make a full recovery. But she developed an infection over the weekend due to the burns. She died Saturday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Chambers was burned while taking a bath at a home in the 200 block of South Sanford. Her mother’s 17-year-old niece had been babysitting Chambers and several other children at the time.

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Investigators said the babysitter began to fill the bathtub before becoming distracted. A 3-year-old child then entered the room and turned a faucet, increasing the amount of hot water in the tub.

The babysitter has been interviewed by authorities and an investigation is ongoing. An autopsy is pending.

Children’s Protective Services officials were notified of the incident shortly after it occurred.